Arrest those who thrashed Punjab policeman, demands opposition

The opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday sought the arrest of those who assaulted a Punjab Police Head Constable and allegedly paraded him naked in a village in Bathinda district.

Head Constable Malkit Singh was allegedly stripped of his official uniform, beaten and paraded naked by his assaulters, said to be the kin of a ruling Shiromani Akali Dal leader, on Friday evening in Virk Kalan village in Bathinda district, some 250 km from here.

The assault followed an argument between two Punjab Police personnel and some youths over the parking of a car.

The victim policeman was later rescued by a police team and admitted to hospital with injuries.

Bathinda district police chief Swapan Sharma said the accused, including village headman's son Lakhwinder Lakha, were absconding and raids were on to nab them.

Sharma denied that the cop was stripped or paraded naked.

Lakha is facing cases of murder, attempt to murder, abduction and other crimes.

Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh on Sunday condemned what he called a "shocking" incident.

"The Badals have plunged Punjab into pre-Independence anarchic days, treating government servants like slaves, to be abused and humiliated at will. The ignominious manner in which Head Constable Malkit Singh was thrashed and then publicly humiliated by being paraded naked and even made to lick the boots of the sons of the Virk Kalan sarpanch is a grim reminder of the extent to which the Badal-led Akalis have stooped in their megalomaniac obsession for power," Amarinder said, demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits.

The AAP too criticised the incident and sought strict action against the culprits.

"Power-drunk Akali leaders are killing common people every day and now have reached the level of beating and insulting public servants on duty," said AAP state convenor Gurpreet Singh Waraich.

--IANS

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